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National Pork Board Approves 2008 Budget and Operating Plan

November 20, 2007 — Cindy Cunningham

The National Pork Board has given its approval to a $51 million budget and operating plan for 2008 that addresses five critical issues facing the U.S. pork industry. The board approved the 2008 budget and plan at its meeting in Des Moines Nov. 13-14. The budget now goes to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for final approval.

The approval culminates a four-month planning process that began in July with the 15 producer board members identifying the critical issues. The process also included input from more than 150 producers, many of them members of Pork Checkoff committees. The five critical issues are: The competitive advantage for U.S. pork; the safeguard and expansion of international markets; domestic pork expenditures; the trust and image of the U.S. pork industry; the development of human capital.

Some of the highlights of the 2008 budget are as follows:

  • Approximately 20 percent of this budget will go directly to state pork organizations to allow them to conduct their own Checkoff-sponsored activities and to partner with national programs.
  • The budget includes funding for 22 new projects representing about $4.8 million.
  • $5 million is dedicated to efforts to build trust with customers and to improve the overall image of the pork industry.
  • It includes a mobile marketing platform that enables the NPB to introduce pork products to millions of consumers at large-scale events. The plan calls for grilling pork and conducting other promotions at events such as auto races, state fairs, food festivals and high-impact sporting events including college and professional football games.
  • The 2008 plan and budget continues research efforts in a wide variety of areas including: Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS); Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVAD); euthanasia procedures; nutritional efficiency; sow longevity; animal well-being; pork safety; environmental practices; and antibiotic use.
  • The board also added financial support for a genome sequencing research project.
  • The new plan and budget also maintains the NPB's commitment to the work of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) in building export markets for U.S. Pork. And it continues the national advertising presence for The Other White Meat - Don't Be Blah® program.

Cindy Cunningham, NPB Assistant Vice President, Communications